the Mississippi, belonging to the United States, and extending from that river to the Rocky Mountains has evidently two characters. The part which lies immediately on the Mississippi and extends from 100 to 250 miles westward from that river, has a thin covering of timber, consisting of clumps and of scattered trees. From the western limits of this region to the Rocky Mountains, the whole is one vast prairie, or meadow, and excepting on the alluvion of rivers, and, in a few instances, on the sides of the small hills, is entirely devested of trees and shrubs. The extent of this region is not accurately known, on account of the real situation of the Rocky Mountains not being yet truly ascertained, but it appears from the account of hunters and travellers, that in some of our best maps and globes they are laid down considerably too far to the eastward. The course of the Mississippi is nearly from north to south, and its average longitude nearly 90° W. The coast of the Pacific, in the medium latitude of the Mississippi, from its source to its mouth, is about 130° W., a difference of 40°, making in that latitude the distance from the Mississippi to the Pacific to be 2124 miles. It is the opinion of all whom I have consulted, and who have crossed the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific, that from the eastern limits of that chain to the Missisisippi, the distance is at least twice as great as from the western limit to the Pacific.* If this is admitted to be correct, the distance from the summit of the Rocky Mountains to the Mississippi is 1416 miles, from which, if 150 be subtracted for the half breadth of the chain, and 200 for the woody regions on the Mississippi, the breadth of the prairie will appear to be 1066 miles and its length from north to south, is at least 18° of latitude, or 1251 miles.

'Excepting towards the foot of the Rocky Mountains, the whole of this extent is what is usually termed a plain, being destitute of those elevations that in other parts appear to have resulted from convulsions.

6th April: walked all day, and, in the afternoon, met the hunters, who had found a bee tree, so named from its hollow trunk containing a swarm of bees, and were returning to the boat for a bucket and a hatchet to cut it down. I accompanied them to the tree: it contained a great number of combs, and about three gallons of honey. The honey bees have been introduced into this continent from Europe, but at what time, I have not been able to ascertain. Since they have entered upon the fine countries of the Illinois and Upper Louisiana, their progress westward has been surprisingly rapid. It is generally known in Upper Louisiana, that bees had not been found westward of the Mississippi prior to the year 1797. They are now found as high up the Missouri as the Maha nation, having moved westward to the distance of six hundred miles in fourteen years. Their extraordinary progress in these parts is probably owing to a portion of the country being prairie, and yielding therefore a succession of flowers during the whole summer, which is not the case in forests. Bees have spread over this continent in a degree, and with a celerity so nearly corresponding with that of the Anglo-Americans, that it has given rise to a belief, both among the Indians and the whites, that bees are their precursors, and that to whatever part they go, the white people will follow. I am of opinion that they are right, as I think it as impossible to stop the progress of the one as of the other.

23d May. When on the bluffst yesterday, I observed in the river an

* Mr. Melish asserts, that one branch of the Missouri rises within four hundred and fifty miles of the Pacific ocean.

As the term bluff may not be familiar to every reader, an explanation may be serviceable. The alluvion of the great rivers west of the Alleghanies is consider

extensive bend, and determined to cross the neck. I therefore did not embark with the boats, but filled my shot pouch with parched corn, and proceeded. In about two hours, I had entirely passed the range of hills. forming the boundary of the Missouri; and, as I had before experienced, found the soil and face of the country to improve very much as we leave the river. The hills, with the intervening valleys, were covered with the most beautiful verdure. I continued to travel through this charming country, and shot several prairie hens (tetrao umbellus), on which I made an excellent supper. On reaching again the bluffs of the Missouri, among a number of new plants, I found a very fine species of ribes, or currant.'

It appears that the Missouri Fur Company trade with the Indians by means of agents scattered over the extreme west. The species of goods most in demand are rifles, powder, ball, knives and spirituous liquors. Mr. Bradbury has known more than 1000 pounds of jerked buffalo meat obtained in barter with the Sioux for as much rum as cost two dollars. The proper season for jerking buffalo meat is in autumn, when the quantity of tallow or fat is very great. It of course begins to diminish when food becomes scarce. As the same obtains in a number of animals, by climate and habit ordained to procure abundance of food in summer, and to suffer great privations in winter, this collection of fat seems to be a kind of reservoir, containing the means of supplying chyle, which is taken up by the absorbent vessels and returned into the system when necessary. The meat is cut into slices, exposed to the sun, until the juices are completely dried up, which is termed jerking, then packed away for use.

Of the state of medicine among the Indians, we have an account far too slender to satisfy our curiosities. With them the down of reedmace (typha palustris) is used in cases of burns or scalds. A species of artemisia, common on the prairies, and known to the hunters by the name of hyssop, attracted our author's notice; but a principal article in Indian pharmacy, according to his account, is a species of wall-flower, in character agreeing with cheiranthus erysimoides, beside which, two new species of astragalus, some roots of rudbeckia purpurea, and a new species of amorpha, used in cases of cholic, are mentioned.

In an appendix of nearly half the size of the book, we are presented with a specimen of Indian eloquence, certainly marked with some fine traits of feeling and sublime idea. It is an oration delivered by a warrior over the body of his deceased chief, in presence of the American officers, who had caused military honours to be paid at the funeral, which they attended with a detachment of troops under their command.

ably lower than the surrounding country, and is of a breadth nearly in the ratio of the magnitude of the river. That of the Missouri is from two to six or eight miles in breadth, and is, for the most part, from one hundred and fifty to three hundred feet below the general level of the country. The ascent from this valley into the country is precipitous, and is called "the bluff." It may consist of rock or clay. Betwixt these bluffs the river runs, in a very crooked channel, and is perpetually changing its bed, as the only permanent bounds are the bluffs.

men.

• Do not grieve-misfortunes will happen to the wisest and the best of Death will come and always comes out of season;-it is the command of the Great Spirit, and all nations and people must obey. What is passed, and cannot be prevented, should not be grieved for. Be not discouraged or displeased then, that in visiting your father here, you have lost your chief. A misfortune of this kind may never again befal you, but this would have attended you perhaps at your own village. Five times have I visited this land, and never returned with sorrow or pain. Misfortunes do not flourish particularly in our path-they grow every where. (Addressing himself to governor Edwards and colonel Miller.) What a misfortune for me that I could not have died this day, instead of the chief that lies before us. The trifling loss my nation would have sustained in my death, would have been doubly paid for by the honours of my burial-they would have wiped off every thing like regret. Instead of being covered with a cloud of sorrow-my warriors would have felt the sunshine of joy in their hearts. To me it would have been a most glorious occurrence. Hereafter, when I die

at home, instead of a noble grave and a grand procession, the rolling music and the thundering cannon, with a flag waving at my head, I shall be wrapped in a robe, (an old rope perhaps) and hoisted on a slender scaffold to the whistling winds, soon to be blown down to the earth-my flesh to be devoured by the wolves, and my bones rattled on the plain by the wild beasts. (Addressing himself to colonel Miller.) Chief of the soldiers-your labours have not been in vain:-your attention shall not be forgotten. My nation shall know the respect that is paid over the dead. When I return I will echo the sound of your guns.'

On the subject of a route to the Pacific, we have some interesting views presented, though perhaps somewhat conjectural, or at least not supported by the direct testimony we could desire. The author accompanied a party bound on that expedition, for several hundred miles. Five of the men engaged in it had traversed the rocky mountains in various directions, and the question of the best possible route in which to cross them was frequently agitated. They all agreed that the route pursued by Lewis and Clarke was very far from being the best, and that to the southward, where the Platte and Roche Jaune rivers rise, they had discovered one far less difficult. This information induced the leader, a Mr. Hunt, to alter the plan of his course, which had originally been to ascend the Missouri to the Roche Jaune river, 1850 miles from the mouth, and at that place he purposed to commence his journey by land. It was afterwards concluded that it would be more adviseable to abandon the Missouri at the Aricara Town, 450 miles lower down the river.

A journey across the American continent, according to the information of hunters and others, appears by no means so arduous if shaped more to the southward. Mr. Brackenridge, in his "Views of Louisiana" corroborates this opinion.

"The route taken by Lewis and Clarke across the mountains was, perhaps, the very worst that could have been selected. Mr. Henry, a member of the Missouri company, and his hunters, have discovered several passes, not only very practicable, but even in

their present state, less difficult than those of the Alleghany mountains. These are considerably south of the source of Jefferson river. It is the opinion of the gentleman last mentioned, that loaded horses, or even wagons, might in its present state, go in the course of six or eight days, from a navigable point on the Columbia, more easy than between those on the heads of the Ohio, and the Atlantic states. Mr. Henry wintered in a delightful country, on a beautiful navigable stream.

"An attempt is now making to form establishments on the Columbia, with what success is not yet much known. This has been undertaken by a company in the city of New-York, at the head of which we find Jacob Astor. Two vessels were despatched for the mouth of the river, with orders to commence an establishment. A party of about eighty men under the command of Wilson P. Hunt, and a brother of sir Alexander Mackenzie, who was formerly in the employment of the north west company, has proceeded across the mountains."

The principal object of this company at present, is the establishment of a fur trade direct with China. The beaver, the valuable sea otter, and the fine furs which may be obtained in this country in great quantities, will undoubtedly produce considerable profits. To introduce returns into the United States across the rocky mountains, will be worthy of experiment. A shortening of the distance, by more than a thousand leagues, will certainly make it an object to lessen the expense and difficulty of transporting goods across the mountains and down the Missouri. It is satisfactory to add, that the colony at present forming, is under the protection and license of our government.

The mineral productions of the Illinois and Missouri territories afforded an abundant harvest for speculation and description, of which Mr. Bradbury has moderately availed himself. Extensive veins of iron ore abound on the Missouri, sufficient to supply the whole of North America with iron for many generations, and when we consider the abundance of coal, it warrants a presage that these objects will become, perhaps at no distant day, of vast national importance.

The lead mines on the Mississippi furnish a considerable freight to New Orleans. Mr. Bradbury is of opinion, that the lead extends to a very great distance beyond the limits of the diggings, which hitherto have been considered as comprising the mines. "I have seen," he observes, "all the indications on the upper part of the Merrimac river, fifty or sixty miles west of the present workings, and still farther to the northward, at the mouth of the Gasconade, on the Missouri. It is supposed by some that it extends to the mines belonging to the Saukee and Fox nations of Indians, which are situated on the Mississippi, six hundred miles above St. Louis. These mines are known to extend over a space of eighty miles in length, and nine miles in breadth.

About fourteen miles west of the Ohio Saline, in the Illinois territory, there is a lead mine lately discovered. Some small excavations have been made, and a quantity of galena found.

The caves yielding saltpetre are found chiefly on Green, Tennessee, and Cumberland rivers, and afford this article in great abundance. Salt abounds in various parts of the western country. It is worthy of notice that gypsum and clay are found together with the salt deposit.

"Some of the isolated sand stone rocks are remarkable for their purity, being so white as to resemble exactly the purest lump sugar. These would furnish an excellent material for the manufacture of glass. When the subterranean geography of this country shall become better known, it will probably be found to be one of the most interesting in the world."

Such a declaration from one qualified to conduct mineralogical inquiries, is highly important, and affords an unbounded prospect of future national wealth and resources. Succeeding geologists may do much. Fortunately for the progress of the pursuit, it is susceptible of division into many different departments, several of which are capable of being extended by mere observation. To reduce the general and grand arrangements of nature to a system, demands a total devotion of time and an acquaintance with almost every branch of experimental and general science, and can be performed only by philosophers; but the facts necessary to this great end may be collected without much labour, and by persons attached to various pursuits and occupations; the principal requisites being minute observation and faithful record. The miner, the quarrier, the surveyor, the engineer, the collier, the iron smelter, and even the traveller in search of general information, have all opportunities of making geological observations; and whether these relate to the metallic productions, ores, rocks, strata, or coal of any district, to the appearances and forms of mountains, the directions of rivers, and the nature of lakes and waters, they are worthy of being accurately noticed. Mineralogical maps of districts might thus be supplied, an object of importance to the scientific world, and a fund of practical information might be obtained, applicable to purposes of public improvement and utility.

Let us now hear Mr. Bradbury's opinion of emigration to the scene of his labours, on which he may be expected to be good authority. "There is no part" says he, "of the western country that holds out greater advantages to the new settler than the Missouri territory. It is inferior to none in point of soil or climate, and has a decided advantage over the country on the Ohio, as the transit to New Orleans may be made at any season of the year; whereas the Ohio is not navigable during the months of August, September, and October. It is also from 600 to 1000 miles nearer to that city than the upper part of the Ohio. Opportunities of purchasing settlements or plantations already formed, are very frequent, and on very moderate terms, as the rage of retiring back prevails here in as great a degree as in the other new countries. "St Louis, the capital of this territory, is very pleasantly situated on the Mississippi, about eighteen miles below the mouth of the Missouri, in latitude 38 degrees 5 minutes, and longitude 89